Dordt University hosts special education symposium to support local practicing teachers

Dordt University's Master of Special Education (MSpEd) program hosted a symposium for regional educators and school leaders on Thursday, April 3, with more than 40 attendees from 21 schools across Iowa and South Dakota.

The event offered a unique opportunity for educators to connect with their peers, tour the Thrive Center, and hear from expert speakers. Dr. Kathleen Van Tol, director of Dordt’s Master of Special Education program and faculty director of the Thrive Center, led a session on understanding and addressing challenging behaviors in the classroom. Dr. Gwen Marra, director of the Thrive Center and professor of education at Dordt, also led a session on the impact of life experiences on brain development and how to make informed instructional choices.

According to Joe Bakker, dean of online, graduate, and partner programs at Dordt, events like this serve multiple purposes. “It gives local teachers access to our professors as leading researchers and practitioners in their fields and offers them valuable training in areas of high need,” he says. “Hearing firsthand about the challenges current educators are facing also helps refine how Dordt's education program can better equip future teachers," explains Bakker.

"Events like the MSpEd Symposium are important because they bring educators together to learn from each other and build their skills in ways that directly support student success," adds Van Tol. "By gathering teachers from both public and private schools, these events help create a sense of community and a shared dedication to improving outcomes for all students."

Ultimately, Bakker sees the event as an opportunity for Dordt to help educators better serve their students and to foster Christ-centered renewal in the classroom. “Our hope is that teachers walked away from the symposium with encouragement, knowledge, and concrete strategies they can start implementing in their classroom today,” says Bakker.

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.